The Invention of Wings

"A slave was supposed to be like the Holy Ghost—don't see it, don't hear it, but it's always hovering round on the ready." ~ p. 12

From the author of The Secret Life of Bees is a novel about two American women: Hetty "Handful" Grimké and Sarah Grimké. The story begins in 1803. On Sarah's eleventh birthday, she is given ownership of ten-year-old Handful who will be her handmaid. Over the next thirty years, the novel follows the women through their individual struggles of womanhood, love, freedom, loss and empowerment.

Writing about slavery as a southern white woman is challenging, I'm sure. Sue Monk Kidd was careful in capturing the relationship between an owner and a slave. The author best describes it as a weaving of fact and fiction. The Invention of Wings is inspired by one of the early pioneers of abolition and women's rights, Sarah Grimké.

Sarah Moore Grimké 1792-1873

The Invention of Wings is the latest Oprah's Book Club 2.0 selection. Join the discussion online and watch Oprah's interview with the author Sue Monk Kidd on Super Soul Sunday. The Invention of Wings is a good interactive choice if you're looking for a historical book to read during Black History Month.

Title: The Invention of Wings
Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Published:  January 2014
Pages: 381
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♡